Conceptual frame on technological perspective for water resources management in the mediterranean region

Abstract

The availability of fresh water supplies in most of the Mediterranean countries is falling short to meet the growing demand. This situation often creates conflicts among the various sectors and places much more pressure on the natural and ecosystems supporting such resources. Therefore, the challenge of water use and allocation is already a major political concern in the Basin and will most likely amplify in the coming years. This chapter presents a summary of the main criteria recommended for the appropriate technologies to attain sustainable water management in the Mediterranean region as defined within the MELIA project. It also addresses the main social, -cultural and institutional constraints facing adopting new technology and concludes with some recommendations on how to mitigate such constraints.